A Convergent Strategy for the Synthesis of Type‐1 Elongated Mucin Cores 1–3 and the Corresponding Glycopeptides

Mucins are a class of highly O‐glycosylated proteins found on the surface of cells in epithelial tissues. O‐Glycosylation is crucial for the functionality of mucins and changes therein can have severe consequences for an organism. With that in mind, the elucidation of interactions of carbohydrate binding proteins with mucins, whether in morbidly altered or unaltered conditions, continue to shed light on mechanisms involved in diseases like chronic inflammations and cancer. Despite the known importance of type‐1 and type‐2 elongated mucin cores 1–4 in glycobiology, the corresponding type‐1 structures are much less well studied. Here, the first chemical synthesis of extended mucin type‐1 O‐glycan core 1–3 amino acid structures based on a convergent approach is presented. By utilizing differentiation in acceptor reactivity, shared early stage Tn‐ and T‐acceptor intermediates were elongated with a common type‐1 [β‐D ‐Gal‐1,3‐β‐D ‐GlcNAc] disaccharide, which allows for straightforward preparation of diverse glycosylated amino acids carrying the type‐1 mucin core 1–3 saccharides. The obtained glycosylated 9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc)‐protected amino acid building blocks were employed in synthesis of type‐1 mucin glycopeptides, which are useful in biological applications.     

Traceless Preparation of C‐Terminal α‐Ketoacids for Chemical Protein Synthesis by α‐Ketoacid–Hydroxylamine Ligation: Synthesis of SUMO2/3

A novel protecting group for enantiopure α‐ketoacids delivers C‐terminal peptide α‐ketoacids directly upon resin cleavage and allows the inclusion of all canonical amino acids, including cysteine and methionine. By using this approach, SUMO2 and SUMO3 proteins were prepared by KAHA ligation with 5‐oxaproline. The synthetic proteins containing homoserine residues were recognized by and conjugated to RanGAP1 by SUMOylation enzymes.     

An easy approach for the acetylation of saccharidic alcohols. Applicability for regioselective protections

Cheap 4 Å molecular sieves can promote acetylation of carbohydrate hydroxyl functions with Ac₂O in absence of any co-reagent. The procedure is compatible with the presence of a variety of acid labile protecting groups and can be exploited for regioselective protections.     

DOTAGA–Anhydride: A Valuable Building Block for the Preparation of DOTA‐Like Chelating Agents

A DOTA derivative that contains an anhydride group was readily synthesized by reacting DOTAGA with acetic anhydride and its reactivity was investigated. Opening the anhydride with propylamine led to the selective formation of one of two possible regioisomers. The structure of the obtained isomer was unambiguously determined by 1D and 2D NMR experiments, including COSY, HMBC, and NOESY techniques. This bifunctional chelating agent offers a convenient and attractive approach for labeling biomolecules and, more generally, for the synthesis of a large range of DOTA derivatives. The scope of the reaction was extended to prepare DOTA‐like compounds that contained various functional groups, such as isothiocyanate, thiol, ester, and amino acid moieties. This versatile building block was also used for the synthesis of a bimodal tag for SPECT or PET/optical imaging.     

Regio/Stereoselective Glycosylation of Diol and Polyol Acceptors in Efficient Synthesis of Neu5Ac‐α‐2,3‐LacNPhth Trisaccharide

A concise approach to a Neu5Ac‐α‐2,3‐LacNPhth trisaccharide derivative was developed. First, the regio/stereoselective glycosylation between glycoside donors and glucoNPhth diol acceptors was investigated. It was found that the regioselectivity depends not only on the steric hindrance of the C2‐NPhth group and the C6‐OH protecting group of the glucosamine acceptors, but also on the leaving group and protecting group of the glycoside donors. Under optimized conditions, LacNPhth derivatives were synthesized in up to 92 % yield through a regio/stereoselective glycosylation between peracetylated‐α‐galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate and p‐methoxyphenyl 6‐O‐tert‐butyldiphenylsilyl‐2‐deoxy‐2‐phthalimido‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside, avoiding the formation of glycosylated orthoesters and anomeric aglycon transfer. Then, the LacNPhth derivative was deacylated and then protected on the primary position by TBDPS to form a LacNPhth polyol acceptor. Finally, the Neu5Ac‐α‐2,3‐LacNPhth derivative was synthesized in 48 % yield through the regio/stereoselective glycosylation between the LacNPhth polyol acceptor and a sialyl phosphite donor. Starting from d ‐glucosamine hydrochloride, the target Neu5Ac‐α‐2,3‐LacNPhth derivative was synthesized in a total yield of 18.5 % over only 10 steps.     

A 3,4‐trans‐Fused Cyclic Protecting Group Facilitates α‐Selective Catalytic Synthesis of 2‐Deoxyglycosides

A practical approach has been developed to convert glucals and rhamnals into disaccharides or glycoconjugates with high α‐selectivity and yields (77–97 %) using a trans‐fused cyclic 3,4‐O‐disiloxane protecting group and TsOH?H₂O (1 mol %) as a catalyst. Control of the anomeric selectivity arises from conformational locking of the intermediate oxacarbenium cation. Glucals outperform rhamnals because the C6 side‐chain conformation augments the selectivity.     

An easy and versatile approach for the regioselective de-O-benzylation of protected sugars based on the I2/Et3 SiH combined system

The use of cheap and easy to handle reagents, such as I(2) and Et(3) SiH, at low temperature allows the regioselective removal of benzyl protecting groups from highly O-benzylated carbohydrates. The observed regioselectivity is dependent on the nature of the precursor, the least accessible carbinol often being liberated. A mechanistic investigation reveals that in situ generated HI is the promoter of the process, whereas the regioselectivity appears to be mainly controlled by steric effects. However, the presence of an electron withdrawing acyl protecting group can switch the regioselectivity to favour deprotection of the carbinol position farthest from the ester group. The protocol is experimentally simple and provides straightforward access in useful yields to a wide range of partially protected mono- and disaccharide building blocks that are valuable for the synthesis of either biologically useful oligosaccharides or highly functionalised chiral compounds. Partially protected sugars thus obtained can also be coupled in situ with a glycosyl donor, as illustrated by the one-pot synthesis of a Lewis X mimic from fully protected precursors.     

2‐Methoxy‐4‐methylsulfinylbenzyl: A Backbone Amide Safety‐Catch Protecting Group for the Synthesis and Purification of Difficult Peptide Sequences

The use of 2‐methoxy‐4‐methylsulfinylbenzyl (Mmsb) as a new backbone amide‐protecting group that acts as a safety‐catch structure is proposed. Mmsb, which is stable during the elongation of the sequence and trifluoroacetic acid‐mediated cleavage from the resin, improves the synthetic process as well as the properties of the quasi‐unprotected peptide. Mmsb offers the possibility of purifying and characterizing complex peptide sequences, and renders the target peptide after NH₄I/TFA treatment and subsequent ether precipitation to remove the cleaved Mmsb moiety. First, the “difficult peptide” sequence H‐(Ala)₁₀‐NH₂ was selected as a model to optimize the new protecting group strategy. Second, the complex, bioactive Ac‐(RADA)₄‐NH₂ sequence was chosen to validate this methodology. The improvements in solid‐phase peptide synthesis combined with the enhanced solubility of the quasi‐unprotected peptides, as compared with standard sequences, made it possible to obtain purified Ac‐(RADA)₄‐NH₂. To extend the scope of the approach, the challenging Aβ(1‐42) peptide was synthesized and purified in a similar manner. The proposed Mmsb strategy opens up the possibility of synthesizing other challenging small proteins.     

The 2‐Cyano‐2,2‐dimethylethanimine‐N‐oxymethyl Group for the 2′‐Hydroxyl Protection of Ribonucleosides in the Solid‐Phase Synthesis of RNA Sequences

The reaction of 2‐cyano‐2‐methyl propanal with 2′‐O‐aminooxymethylribonucleosides leads to stable and yet reversible 2′‐O‐(2‐cyano‐2,2‐dimethylethanimine‐N‐oxymethyl)ribonucleosides. Following N‐protection of the nucleobases, 5′‐dimethoxytritylation and 3′‐phosphitylation, the resulting 2′‐protected ribonucleoside phosphoramidite monomers are employed in the solid‐phase synthesis of three chimeric RNA sequences, each differing in their ratios of purine/pyrimidine. When the activation of phosphoramidite monomers is performed in the presence of 5‐benzylthio‐1H‐tetrazole, coupling efficiencies averaging 99 % are obtained within 180 s. Upon completion of the RNA‐chain assemblies, removal of the nucleobase and phosphate protecting groups and release of the sequences from the solid support are carried out under standard basic conditions, whereas the cleavage of 2′‐O‐(2‐cyano‐2,2‐dimethylethanimine‐N‐oxymethyl) protective groups is effected (without releasing RNA alkylating side‐products) by treatment with tetra‐n‐butylammonium fluoride (0.5 m) in dry DMSO over a period of 24–48 h at 55 °C. Characterization of the fully deprotected RNA sequences by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), enzymatic hydrolysis, and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry confirmed the identity and quality of these sequences. Thus, the use of 2′‐O‐aminooxymethylribonucleosides in the design of new 2′‐hydroxyl protecting groups is a powerful approach to the development of a straightforward, efficient, and cost‐effective method for the chemical synthesis of high‐quality RNA sequences in the framework of RNA interference applications.     

Surface‐activated chemical ionization and cation exchange chromatography for the analysis of enterotoxin A

Surface‐activated chemical ionization (SACI) has been widely used in recent years for the analysis of different compounds (e.g. peptides, street drugs, amino acids). The main benefits of this technology are its high sensitivity and its effectiveness under different chromatographic conditions [i.e. ion exchange chromatography and reversed‐phase (RP) chromatography]. Here we used SACI in conjunction with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry to analyze enterotoxin A, which is produced by Staphylococcus aureus, in milk matrix using both RP and ion exchange chromatographies. SACI had increased sensitivity as compared with electrospray ionization. Moreover, the higher quantitation efficiency of this technique, mainly in terms of limit of detection (0.01 ng/ml), limit of quantitation (0.05 ng/ml), linearity range (0.05–50 ng/ml), matrix effect, accuracy (intraday and interday accuracy errors were 9.2% and 10.3%, respectively) and precision (intraday and interday precision errors were 5.3% and 12.8%, respectively), is shown and discussed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Total Synthesis of Human Hepcidin through Regioselective Disulfide‐Bond Formation by using the Safety‐Catch Cysteine Protecting Group 4,4′‐Dimethylsulfinylbenzhydryl

A safety‐catch cysteine protecting group, S‐4,4′‐dimethylsulfinylbenzhydryl (Msbh), was designed and developed to expand the capabilities of synthetic strategies for the regioselective formation of disulfide bonds in cysteine‐rich peptides. The directed regioselective synthesis of human hepcidin, which contains four disulfide bonds, was undertaken and led to a high‐resolution NMR structure under more physiologically relevant conditions than previously. Conversely, hepcidin synthesized with the formerly assigned vicinal disulfide‐bond connectivity displayed significant conformational heterogeneity under similar conditions. The two synthetic forms of human hepcidin induced ferroportin internalization with apparent EC₅₀ values of 2.0 (native fold, 1 ) and 4.4 nM (non‐native fold, 2 ), with 2 undergoing isomerization to 1 in the presence of ferroportin expressing cells.     

Total Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of the Cytotoxic Resin Glycosides Ipomoeassin A–F and Analogues

A multitasking C‐silylation strategy using the readily available compound 26 as a surrogate for cinnamic acid represents the key design element of a total synthesis of all known members of the ipomoeassin family of resin glyosides. This protecting group maneuver allows the unsaturated acids decorating the glucose subunit of the targets to be attached at an early phase of the synthesis, prevents their participation in the ruthenium‐catalyzed ring‐closing metathesis (RCM) used to form the macrocyclic ring, and protects them against reduction during the hydrogenation of the resulting cycloalkene over Wilkinson’s catalyst. As the C‐silyl group can be concomitantly removed with the O‐TBS substituent using tris(dimethylamino)sulfonium difluorotrimethylsilicate (TASF) in acetonitrile, no separate protecting group manipulations were necessary in the final stages, thus contributing to a favorable overall “economy of steps”. In addition to the naturally occurring ipomoeassins, a small set of synthetic analogues has also been prepared by “diverted total synthesis”. The cytotoxicity of these compounds was assayed with two different cancer cell lines. The recorded data confirm previous findings that the acylation‐ and oxygenation pattern of these amphiphilic glycoconjugates is highly correlated with their biological activity profile. Ipomoeassin F turned out to be the most promising member of the series, showing IC₅₀ values in the low nanomolar range.     

2‐Nitroveratryl as a Photocleavable Thiol‐Protecting Group for Directed Disulfide Bond Formation in the Chemical Synthesis of Insulin

Chemical synthesis of peptides can allow the option of sequential formation of multiple cysteines through exploitation of judiciously chosen regioselective thiol‐protecting groups. We report the use of 2‐nitroveratryl (oNv) as a new orthogonal group that can be cleaved by photolysis under ambient conditions. In combination with complementary S‐pyridinesulfenyl activation, disulfide bonds are formed rapidly in situ. The preparation of Fmoc‐Cys(oNv)‐OH is described together with its use for the solid‐phase synthesis of complex cystine‐rich peptides, such as insulin.     

General Protocol for the Synthesis of Functionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles for Magnetic Resonance Imaging from Protected Metal–Organic Precursors

The development of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) with functional groups has been intensively pursued in recent years. Herein, a simple, versatile, and cost‐effective strategy to synthesize water‐soluble and amino‐functionalized MNPs, based on the thermal decomposition of phthalimide‐protected metal–organic precursors followed by deprotection, was developed. The resulting amino‐functionalized Fe₃O₄, MnFe₂O₄, and Mn₃O₄ MNPs with particle sizes of about 14.3, 7.5, and 6.6 nm, respectively, had narrow size distributions and good dispersibility in water. These MNPs also exhibited high magnetism and relaxivities of r₂=107.25 mM^?1 s^?1 for Fe₃O₄, r₂=245.75 mM^?1 s^?1 for MnFe₂O₄, and r₁=2.74 mM^?1 s^?1 for Mn₃O₄. The amino‐functionalized MNPs were further conjugated with a fluorescent dye (rhodamine B) and a targeting ligand (folic acid: FA) and used as multifunctional probes. Magnetic resonance imaging and flow‐cytometric studies showed that these probes could specifically target cancer cells overexpressing FA receptors. This new protocol opens a new way for the synthesis and design of water‐soluble and amino‐functionalized MNPs by an easy and versatile route.     

Using one‐step perturbation to predict the effect of changing force‐field parameters on the simulated folding equilibrium of a β‐peptide in solution

Computer simulation using molecular dynamics is increasingly used to simulate the folding equilibria of peptides and small proteins. Yet, the quality of the obtained results depends largely on the quality of the force field used. This comprises the solute as well as the solvent model and their energetic and entropic compatibility. It is, however, computational very expensive to perform test simulations for each combination of force‐field parameters. Here, we use the one‐step perturbation technique to predict the change of the free enthalpy of folding of a β‐peptide in methanol solution due to changing a variety of force‐field parameters. The results show that changing the solute backbone partial charges affects the folding equilibrium, whereas this is relatively insensitive to changes in the force constants of the torsional energy terms of the force field. Extending the cut‐off distance for nonbonded interactions beyond 1.4 nm does not affect the folding equilibrium. The same result is found for a change of the reaction‐field permittivity for methanol from 17.7 to 30. The results are not sensitive to the criterion, e.g., atom‐positional RMSD or number of hydrogen bonds, that is used to distinguish folded and unfolded conformations. Control simulations with perturbed Hamiltonians followed by backward one‐step perturbation indicated that quite large perturbations still yield reliable results. Yet, perturbing all solvent molecules showed where the limitations of the one‐step perturbation technique are met. The evaluated methodology constitutes an efficient tool in force‐field development for molecular simulation by reducing the number of required separate simulations by orders of magnitude. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010     

Efficient Iterative Synthesis of O‐Acetylated Tri‐ to Pentadecasaccharides Related to the Lipopolysaccharide of Shigella flexneri Type 3 a through Di‐ and Trisaccharide Glycosyl Donors

Protection against bacterial infections, including shigellosis, can be achieved by antibodies against the bacterial surface polysaccharide. In line with our efforts to develop vaccine candidates for shigellosis, we report herein the synthesis of penta‐, deca‐, and pentadecasaccharides as well as tri‐, octa‐, and tridecasaccharides as the endchain and intrachain fragments, respectively, of the surface polysaccharide of Shigella flexneri 3 a, a prevalent serotype. The syntheses relied on the efficiency of the trichloroacetimidate glycosylation chemistry, whereby iteration with di‐ and trisaccharide building blocks provided fragments made of up to three mono‐O‐acetylated polysaccharide repeating units. Pd(OH)₂‐mediated hydrogenation/hydrogenolysis enabled the concomitant removal or conversion of up to 31 protecting groups of 4 different origins to provide the targets as propyl glycosides. Oligosaccharides comprising the octasaccharide segment were shown to display high conformational similarities in solution.